Authorities begin eviction drive on political hoardings as MCC comes into effect

Puri: As the model code of conduct (MCC) comes into effect with the announcement of general elections in Odisha and other parts of the country on Sunday, district administrations in the State have begun eviction drive to remove all hoardings, banners and posters of political parties and their leaders.

As per reports, the Enforcement team of Puri Municipality under the supervision of Additional District Collector Binay Kumar Das and District Election Officer removed all kind of political hoardings from VIP Road and many other key locations of the pilgrim town on Sunday evening.

Das informed that all hoardings and banners advertising various schemes and programmes of different political parties would be removed from all the 11 blocks of Puri district within 24 hours.

Similarly, officials of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) also removed the hoardings and banners of both Central and State Governments on priority basis from different places of the capital city on Sunday night.

Yesterday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha Surendra Kumar had informed that the State would go to simultaneous polls in four phases starting April 11, 2019. The next three phases of elections will be conducted on April 18, 23 and 29.

The CEO also directed the district administrations to remove advertising posters and banners from across the State. He also asked the government to direct all the departments to appoint their nodal officers to ensure that the rule is strictly implemented in accordance with the model code of conduct within 24 hours.